Villeneuve considering V8 future

The Canadian is one of the star guest drivers joining the V8 regulars for this weekend's Gold Coast 600 two-driver races at former Champ Car venue Surfers Paradise. Villeneuve will be paired with Paul Dumbrell at Rod Nash Racing.

Villeneuve has focused primarily on getting into NASCAR in recent years alongside efforts to get back into F1, first with the Stefan GP squad and then with a project to create his own team in association with Durango. Neither was ultimately given an F1 entry.

While NASCAR remains Villeneuve's primary aim, he said his V8 outing this weekend had opened up another new opportunity.

"There is a big chance you will see more of me here," he told the Sydney Daily Telegraph.

"I would love to come and race here because it is such a great place. I wouldn't mind coming and doing it full-time because it could be a lot of fun."

He said his preference was for a fully-fledged switch rather than further guest outings.

"Part-time in Australia is too tough," Villeneuve said. "It is a long way to come and I have two little boys and you can't just leave for a month or two. It is much better to come and do it full-time and that is what I would do.

"They are cars I always have been intrigued by. Mainly because of Bathurst. I also got to see a fair bit of them at Melbourne during the F1. I have also spoken a lot to [V8 champion turned NASCAR racer Marcos] Ambrose about it in the States."

Other international guests joining the V8 line-up for Surfers include IndyCar's Dario Franchitti, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Alex Tagliani and Ryan Briscoe, four-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais, World Touring Car stars Yvan Muller, Andy Priaulx, Alain Menu and Tiago Monteiro, plus further ex-F1 drivers in the shape of Mika Salo and Gianni Morbidelli.